CDH Helped Shape Career and Values for Andy Soucheray '92
Greta Cunningham ‘23, Communications Intern
December 20, 2023
Now a Chicago based partner at Ernst & Young, Andy Soucheray ’92 has continued to support Cretin-Derham Hall because of its influential role in shaping the career and values he’s dedicated his subsequent years to pursuing.
“It was a formative time in my life, and it prepared me well for college and beyond. I’m so grateful that CDH was able to accomplish so much for me in the four years I was there. I couldn’t have asked for a better high school experience,” he said.
While at CDH, he competed on the golf team and was a boys basketball manager, fondly remembering their 1991 state championship.
“Catholic schools provide a well rounded education. It's more than just the academics; it reminds you that service is important and that being a good citizen is important. I think that’s the legacy of a good Catholic school like CDH,” he said. “It also creates a sense of community that people stay engaged with. Their family members attend, their neighbors attend, and the people they become close to all have a great relationship with this institution, which strengthens the community, especially in and around St. Paul.”
Soucheray’s sisters, Emily Soucheray Guion ’96 and Stephine Soucheray ’03, also attended CDH, a tradition being passed down to some of his nieces and nephews. After graduating, Soucheray went to Marquette University where he got his degree in accounting and business management.
“Br. Alphonsus Martel, FSC taught an accounting class that allowed me to get a head start on an interest that ultimately became my career. I knew right away it was what I wanted to study when I started college” said Soucheray.
And accounting wasn’t the only discipline he pursued because of initial exposure at CDH.
“I took French in high school, and, having really enjoyed learning a language, wanted to continue that in college. I decided to minor in French, which I used to participate in Marquette’s international study program at the University of Strasbourg in France,” he said. “There was a direct link between my experience at CDH and the decision to pursue that at Marquette; CDH set me up well to take advantage of all Marquette had to offer. It was on that trip to France that I met my wife, who was participating in that same study abroad program, so I can give CDH some credit for that too.”
Soucheray has now spent almost 30 years at Ernst & Young, one of the Big Four global accounting firms.
“I audit the financial statements of companies, mostly airlines. Everyday, we check that the numbers and decisions around their financial transactions are reported and disclosed correctly to the public. It’s challenging, but it’s interesting,” he said.
While building his career, Soucheray and his wife Janell have also built a family.
“I have four kids and I never thought twice about sending them to a Catholic grade school or a Catholic high school. My wife and I recognized how valuable that opportunity was in my life, so we really value that for our children and are very involved in their middle school and high school lives here in Chicago. I wanted them to go to a school that was a lot like CDH; it’s just one example of the ongoing influence my CDH experience has had on me and now my children,” he said.
Soucheray has high hopes and expectations for the students currently at CDH as well.
“I hope they take their high school classes and experiences at a Catholic school seriously and remember that they’ve been given a real gift to have this foundational experience. They owe it to themselves to pursue all that CDH is preparing them for, whether that’s involvement in their community or pursuing a career professionally. I want them to remember that they don’t have to wait until they’re 40 or 50 to give back to CDH; they can get involved right away,” he said.
Soucheray’s strong belief in the importance of that kind of stewardship has led him to generously support CDH over the years.
“It’s important that Catholic schools stay open. We want CDH to survive for future generations, so everyone needs to do what they can to help. We can’t take it for granted; if we want the school to continue, we need to make investments in it so it does,” he said.
Make an impact today!
You can still make a 2023 gift to Cretin-Derham Hall. There are three easy ways to give:
- ONLINE - Donate Here Today
- PHONE/EMAIL - For stock transfer instructions or credit card donations, please email Peggy Gartland Schafer '79 at pschafer@c-dh.org or call 651-696-3318.
- MAIL - Please make checks payable to Cretin-Derham Hall and mail to:
CDH Advancement Office
550 S. Albert Street
Saint Paul, MN 55116
Thank you for being part of our incredible community! If you have already given a gift this year, Thank you!